The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team was formed through the acquisition of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, following an agreement between McLaren Racing and Mercedes-Benz that will see the reigning ABB FIA Formula E World Championship team transfer into the McLaren Racing family.
The outfit says its entry is aimed squarely at accelerating McLaren Racing’s understanding of EV technology as part of its sustainability journey while reaching a new, more diverse global audience.
Mercedes-EQ started a radical new chapter with a grand entry into all-electric street racing in Season 6. After closing out their rookie campaign with a debut victory and third in the Teams' standings, the team set out in 2020/21 with a clear eye on the title and duly delivered, with Nyck de Vries sealing the top spot at the last. De Vries will set about defending his title in Season 8, returning alongside Stoffel Vandoorne as the legendary German marque searches for double Teams’ and Drivers’ crowns.
With a motorsport history dating back to 1894, when Mercedes-Benz competed in the very first motor race between Paris and Rouen. With a strong racing pedigree outside of Formula E, including six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles in the hybrid era of Formula 1, the marque also enjoyed success in German touring cars (DTM) and sportscar racing worldwide. Few names in the sport can claim to be more successful.
Marking its first year as a full works team, the team graduated out of the HWA Racelab outfit, which competed in the 2018/19 season of the championship. Finishing ninth overall, HWA claimed one podium in 13 races with drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Gary Paffett.
After completing its reconnaissance season in Formula E, Affalterbach-based developer HWA continued to take responsibility for managing the Mercedes cars on race weekends, while Ian James took up the post of team principal in 2019/20.
In the opening Diriyah double-header, Vandoorne romped to the podium with two third-place finishes. Between the Belgian and his teammate Nyck de Vries, the pair demonstrated rapid pace across the season, but some teething trouble meant results didn't quite match the potential. Third in the standings, and a statement one-two with Vandoorne leading de Vries home in the Berlin season finale, augured well.
In 2020/21, de Vries flew out of the blocks in Diriyah - striding to victory in Formula E's first-ever night race, and the series' opening race as an FIA World Championship. He topped every session in Round 1 and set the tone for a strong campaign. Victory in Valencia and a double podium in London followed and the Dutchman sealed the title at the last on Mercedes’ home soil in Berlin - with Vandoorne’s Rome race win and a podium in the finale ensuring the marque took the Teams’ crown.
The pair returned for Season 8, with Vandoorne this time coming out on top as the team scored a historic double-double of consecutive Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. Despite only finishing on the top step once that season, it was Vandoorne’s consistency that led him to the title. On top of his first place, Vandoorne visited the podium on seven other occasions, adding two Julius Baer Pole Positions and a fastest lap in the process.
It was all change for Season 9, as Silver gave way to Papaya and De Vries and Vandoorne handed the baton to rookie Jake Dennis and Rene Rast, as McLaren began their electric adventure. The team weren’t able to match the pace of the Silver Arrows in GEN 3’s inaugural season, but fans were treated to glimpses of their speed, particularly during qualifying.
Hughes showed impressive one-lap speed in his first season in the sport, particularly at the beginning of the season. He secured two Julius Baer Pole Positions, and started in the top five on two other occasions, but was unable to convert those strong starting positions into silverware.
However, Hughes would finally claim his first podium in Shanghai in Season 10, claiming second place after starting the race on pole. The 2023/24 campaign was also one for the papaya history books as Sam Bird, who replaced Rast in the teams' debut, secured NEOM McLaren’s first-ever victory in Formula E. The ultra-experienced British driver managed to guide his McLaren home to a stunning win in São Paulo in Round 4.
Season 10 also saw the Papaya-squad make history by fielding the youngest-ever Formula E driver. Claiming this record was McLaren Driver Development Programme member Taylor Barnard, who filled in for the injured Bird during the Monaco E-Prix. At the time, Barnard was 19 years, 332 days, making him the only teenager ever to take part in an official Formula E race.
Just two races later the young Brit would add another record to his name by becoming the youngest points scorer in Formula E history after picking up the final points-paying position with 10th in the second race in Berlin.
This was enough for Barnard to secure a seat for Season 11 as the fresh rookie will partner with the experienced hands of Bird for Formula E's next season and the all-new GEN3 Evo.